Concerned mum of young man stabbed in Harborough backs new high-profile moves to make the town safer amid fears of rising violence

The concerned mum of a young man stabbed in Market Harborough is backing new high-profile moves to make the town safer amid fears of rising violence.

Claire Silcott is supporting a new campaign being launched by Harborough council and the police to crack down on anti-social behaviour in parks like Little Bowden Recreation Ground.

The worried mother-of-four said she’s also hoping that the vicious knife attack on her 21-year-old son Kieran Silcott on the night of Saturday June 12 is a one-off and that no one else gets hurt.

Claire, of Lubenham, told the Harborough Mail: “I, of course, support any initiative to make the parks safer.

“And I truly hope that the incident with my son was isolated and not something that will become more prevalent in our market town.”

She said Keiran is now recovering well at home after he was stabbed in the chest and right leg in Britannia Walk near Little Bowden rec.

He was flown to University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire by air ambulance after he was knifed in the chest and right leg.

Keiran, who’s unemployed, was allowed to go home hours later after being treated at hospital for his wounds and shock.

The brutal attack has stunned Market Harborough.

And Cllr Phil King, the leader of Harborough council, told a full council meeting last night (Monday): “I was very shocked by the stabbing last weekend of a 21-year-old man in Market Harborough town centre.

“I’m also relieved, as I’ve no doubt he and his family are, that it wasn’t more serious.

“I urge anyone with information about that attack to contact Leics Police or Crimestoppers.”

He told councillors that police have said the stabbing “is unrelated to the upsurge in ASB (anti-social behaviour)”.

And Cllr King slammed a tide of rowdyism and trouble which has swept Harborough district over the last few weeks.

“As many of us are aware, one of the impacts arising from removal of Covid-19 restrictions has been an upsurge in anti-social behaviour across the district, which has been repeated nationally,” said Cllr King.

“All across our district, we have seen repeated ‘parties in parks’, from Little Bowden to Thurnby, to the Kibworths and elsewhere.

“Much of this is well organised and orchestrated by the key players via social media.

“Younger people, keen to make up for months of social isolation, have swarmed around like bees to honey,” insisted Cllr King.

“Frequently they have even had unwitting support and input from parents to cavort around at these places, much to the frustration and increasing despair of local residents who have been undeservedly and negatively impacted by these events.

“Loud music, public drunkenness, alleged acts of lewdness, and using outside spaces as toilets to name but a few of the complaints,” said Cllr King.

“On top of that is the litter, broken glass and acts of vandalism.

“Add to this mix, drugs and those with a more sinister agenda, and many younger people across our district have put themselves at risk of being exploited by ‘County Lines’ gangs and others.

“This is a complex issue which no single agency can solve by itself.”

The Conservative council chief said he made “no apology for my hard-hitting message” urging parents to “wise up” to the threat of County Lines gangs in the Harborough Mail last week.

“Whilst the vast majority of residents and young people in the Harborough district are decent, law abiding, respectful and responsible individuals, a minority are not.

“Parents need to wise up fast to the risks that their youngsters are being exposed to.

“The district council is doing what it can.

“We are working via the Community Safety Partnership to ensure that all partners are positively working to address the ongoing issues and concerns of our communities as a priority,” said Cllr King.

“We can solve these problems - but we need to work together.

“With rights come responsibilities.

“We need our communities to be the eyes and ears of the police and report information about those who are responsible for supplying drugs and preying on our impressionable youngsters so that the necessary action can be taken.”

You can contact police at www.leics.police.uk or on 101 or 999 if it’s an emergency while you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously at www.crimestoppers-uk.org